MLB

Diamondbacks 8, Dodgers 2

LOS ANGELES (AP)

The Arizona Diamondbacks have sent a message to the Los Angeles
Dodgers in the first two games of their NL West showdown: This is
going to be a three-team race after all.

Paul Goldschmidt homered in the first inning for the second
straight game, Miguel Montero added a three-run shot and rookie
Wade Miley pitched eight dominant innings for the Diamondbacks in
an 8-2 victory over the Dodgers on Tuesday night.

The Dodgers' loss, coupled with San Francisco's 4-1 win over the
Mets, dropped Los Angeles behind the NL West-leading Giants while
the Diamondbacks remained 3 1-2 games off the pace.

''It's just the dynamics of the team. The pitching's been good
and guys are picking each other up. That's all part of it,''
Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew said. ''When you're in a race like
this and you're still a ways to go, we just have to keep our rhythm
going and have the confidence to go out every day and play as hard
as you can. I've been here for seven years, and what's going to get
us there is your pitching and defense, and timely hitting - and a
hot streak.''

Miley (12-6) allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked
one. The only run against the left-hander was a first-inning homer
by Mark Ellis, who came in 6-for-11 against him.

''Ellis pretty much owns me, but I got back on the same page
with Miggy and he put down the right fingers tonight,'' Miley said.
''I was throwing three of my pitches for strikes and keeping guys
off-balance a little bit. They were hitting ground balls and the
defense was making plays.''

Miley, inserted into the rotation on April 23 after right-hander
Daniel Hudson went on the disabled list with an impingement in his
shoulder, hasn't walked more than two batters in any of his last 19
starts - one behind Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo for the longest
active streak in the majors.

''I just have the confidence throwing strikes,'' Miley said.
''Me and Miggy have a great relationship. He trusts me, I trust him
and everything's been working. We're swinging the bat right now and
pitching well, and we've just got to keep grinding it out. As long
as we keep winning games, we'll be where we need to be at the
end.''

Chris Capuano (10-7) allowed five runs, six hits and three walks
in six innings with six strikeouts. The left-hander is 1-4 with a
4.66 ERA in his last five starts - a stretch that began with a 7-1
loss at Arizona on July 8.

The Dodgers and D-Backs made separate deals in the waning hours
preceding Tuesday's non-roster trading deadline. Los Angeles sent
reliever Josh Lindblom to Philadelphia for Shane Victorino, who
will be the Dodgers' regular left fielder and leadoff hitter.

Arizona acquired outfielder Scott Podsednik and reliever Matt
Albers from Boston for reliever Craig Breslow. Victorino won a
World Series ring with the Phillies in 2008, and Podsednik got one
with the 2005 Chicago White Sox.

Goldschmidt, whose three-run homer Monday night against Aaron
Harang ignited a 7-2 Diamondbacks victory, drove Capuano's 1-2
pitch into the lower seats in the left field corner for his 15th of
the season after a two-out walk to Jason Kubel.

''Anytime you get an opportunity to get ahead early in the game,
you have to take advantage of it,'' Goldschmidt said. ''I don't
care what team you're playing against. You're going to play better
when you score early and play with a lead.''

Capuano returned to the dugout after the inning and slammed his
glove against the wall before taking a seat - but he was back on
his feet moments later congratulating Ellis on his one-out solo
homer.

''I'm not happy with the way I've been attacking the
left-handers like Kubel the last couple of games,'' Capuano said.
''I feel like I have an advantage against those guys, and I need to
be hitting my spots. I was frustrated by the walk, and I get
frustrated when I get a guy 0-2 or 1-2 and put one in a zone where
he can hit it.''

The Diamondbacks' first three hits all were by Goldschmidt,
whose sixth-inning single was his eighth hit in 10 career at-bats
against Capuano.

''I can't explain it. Maybe next time he'll punch me out four
times,'' Goldschmidt said. ''I'm sure he didn't like where some of
those pitches were. They were good pitches to hit. When guys make
mistakes, sometimes you hit them, sometimes you foul them off. So
we'll see what happens next time.''

Justin Upton, the subject of numerous trade rumors on Tuesday,
followed Goldschmidt's third hit with another single and Montero
made it 5-1 with a towering drive into the bullpen in right on a
2-0 count - one pitch after Capuano got a visit from pitching coach
Rick Honeycutt.

Arizona tacked on three runs in the ninth when Chris Young
scored on Upton's fielder's choice grounder and Chris Johnson hit a
two-run single with the bases loaded. Johnson had a grand slam in
Monday night in his Diamondbacks debut after coming over in a trade
from Houston, and is 4-for-8 with his new club.

Notes: Dodgers C Matt Treanor went 0-for-2 with a walk while his
wife, Misty May Treanor, was half a world away preparing for her
next beach volleyball match at the London Olympics on Wednesday.
She is vying for her third Olympic gold medal. ... The D-Backs are
14-1 this season when Goldschmidt homers. Before this series, only
one of his 21 previous big league home runs came in the first
inning. ... Capuano is 3-10 with five no-decisions when he has
given up a homer in the opening inning. ... When Victorino makes
his Dodgers debut on Wednesday afternoon against D-Backs' Triple-A
callup Patrick Corbine will become the eighth player manager Don
Mattingly will have used in the leadoff spot this season, and the
ninth to start in left.

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.